Basin for use with commercial dish and glassware racks

Abstract

A basin which stackably interlocks with 20-inch square racks that hold dish and glassware washed in commercial dishwashers. The basin has substantially the exterior configuration of a commercial dishwasher rack and receives a plurality of dishwasher racks stacked above. The basin solid on its base and sides for prohibiting substances which drip down into it from racks stacked above from dripping onto the floor. The basin has circular indentations in the top surface of the base, trapping water and preventing it from sloshing from side to side of the basin when it is carried or moved. The basin may be loaded into a dolly used to transport commercial dishwasher racks, as the dollies typically have an open bottom. Thus, the basin can provide the water-catching function for racks loaded onto a dolly. Grooves in the basin's bottom surface permit stacking on top of a rack or other basins for storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A basin comprising:
 a base including at least a top surface and a bottom surface; 
 four sides of substantially equal height peripheral to the base, wherein pairs of adjoining sides form a rounded corner, each of the four sides including at least:
 an inner and outer panel associated with a top rail, the inner and outer panels being of substantially the same height, wherein the top rail includes locator posts projecting upwardly from the top rail, and 
 wherein the outer panel of each of the four sides is upwardly inclined toward the inner panel defining a space with at least one limiting spacer positioned therein to limit the penetration of at least a portion of a top rail of another basin or a commercial dish and glassware rack; and 
 
 wherein the basin prevents passage through the interior of the basin. 
 
     
     
       2. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the base including at least a top surface and a bottom surface further includes:
 at least one indentation disposed in the top surface of the base. 
 
     
     
       3. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the base including at least a top surface and a bottom surface further includes:
 at least one continuous indentation forming a channel peripheral to the inner panel of each of the four sides. 
 
     
     
       4. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the base including at least a top surface and a bottom surface further includes:
 at least one raised area disposed on the top surface of the base. 
 
     
     
       5. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the base has at least one generally square indentation. 
     
     
       6. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the four sides include at least one handle section. 
     
     
       7. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panels of at least two of the four sides have a handle section. 
     
     
       8. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the limiting spacers comprise:
 at least one loop around the perimeter of the basin, the loop disposed between the inner and outer panels of the four sides. 
 
     
     
       9. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the base is higher than a lower edge of the plurality of limiting spacers. 
     
     
       10. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the base is lower than a lower edge of the limiting spacers. 
     
     
       11. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the base including at least a top surface and a bottom surface further comprises:
 at least a plurality of indentations disposed in the top surface of the base. 
 
     
     
       12. The basin of  claim 1 , wherein the base including at least a top surface and a bottom surface further comprises:
 at least a plurality of raised areas disposed on the top surface of the base.